Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 79440 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79440 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
“This. I need this. I need you.”
“I’m right here, and I’m yours. You have me, Jordyn. You hear me, beautiful? You have me.”
“So close.” I can feel my orgasm building. It’s as if I’m ready to high dive off a cliff. The anticipation of the fall is there, growing stronger with each thrust.
Ryder moves closer. We’re now chest to chest as he holds me tightly. One arm wraps around my waist while the other slides between us. His thumb begins to make small circles on my clit, causing my eyes to roll back in my head from the pleasure it brings. I rest my hands on his shoulders and grind against him. The response is immediate, and I detonate like a bomb of desire.
I call out his name. He grunts mine as he, too, finds his release. I slump against him, wrapping my arms around his neck and holding on with everything I have inside me. He does the same. With his strong arms holding me so tightly, I can’t be sure where he ends and I begin.
Neither of us is willing to break the embrace as time creeps up on us. Finally, it’s Ryder, who relaxes and leans back. He cradles my cheeks in the palms of his hands and kisses me tenderly.
“Shower with me?”
“Yeah,” I agree easily, because we need to get cleaned up so I can pack. It’s almost time to go. With my heart in my throat, I slowly rise, feeling the evidence of our lovemaking coat my thighs, and climb out of bed.
Ryder is right behind me with his hand on the small of my back, guiding me into the bathroom.
Ryder insisted on driving me to the airport. He also insisted on walking me inside. It’s risky, but I couldn’t say no. Not when I know that, when he turns and walks away, that’s it for us. I was lucky enough to find the love of a lifetime, and because of the hatred that lives inside of my mother, I have to set him free.
“One more hug,” I tell him. “Then you really need to go.”
“What if they forget to send someone to get you? I’m not leaving until I know you have a ride.”
“Ryder, if whoever she sends sees you, they’ll report back to her, and I don’t need that on top of knowing this is it for us.”
“No.” His voice is hard. He grips my shoulders and bends his knees so we are eye to eye. “This is not it for us. This. Is. Not. It. I’ll find a way, and if we have to sneak around until then, that’s what we’ll do.”
“It’s too risky.”
“Trust me, sweets. I’d never let anything happen to you. We can be discreet. I’ll call you.”
“No. You can’t. I don’t know when she’ll be around, and I’m sure she’s watching my phone.”
“Then she already knows you’re home early.”
I nod. “Probably. I’ll tell her you were still bothering Gianna, and I needed to end things with you once and for all.”
He pulls his phone out of his pocket and skims over our messages. “That should be believable.”
“Yes.”’
“Okay. Stay right here. Give me five minutes.” He takes off, jogging across the airport to the gift shop. I watch as he grabs something, takes it to the counter, and makes a purchase. It's longer than five minutes, more like ten, but when he reaches me, he’s smiling as he holds his hand out.
“What’s that?”
“A prepaid cell phone. One your mother won’t know about. You can call and text me anytime day or night. I already put the number in my phone. Just hide it from her. This is our connection, so we can see one another under the radar until I find a solution.”
I want to tell him we’re just delaying the inevitable, but the thought of being able to talk to him and maybe see him again, to consider that maybe this isn’t goodbye gives me enough hope in my heart to keep my mouth shut.
“We’ll get through this, Jordyn. This will make the last two years look like a cakewalk.”
I smile up at him. “I want to believe everything will work out in the end, but it’s hard.”
“The last two years didn’t break us, and this won’t either.” He pulls me into a kiss that has my knees going weak. “I’m going to walk away now. I love you. I am yours, and you are mine, and we’re going to make this work. I’m going to stand off to the side and make sure you have a ride before I leave. Call or text me when you get settled.”
“I love you.” Tears well in my eyes.
“No more tears, sweets. You’re home. I’m going to call my brothers and rally the troops. We’re going to talk about this and try to form a plan.”